What Happens to the Carbohydrates You Eat?

Question 1

What role does the mouth play in digesting carbohydrates?

Answer 1

Mastication mixes food with saliva. Salivary amylase breaks down amylose and amylopectin into smaller chains of carbohydrates.

Question 2

What role do the salivary glands play in digesting carbohydrates?

Answer 2

They produce salivary amylase

Question 3

What role does the stomach play in digesting carbohydrates?

Answer 3

The acidity of the stomach inactivates the salivary amylase; thus, very little digestion of carbohydrates occurs in the stomach.

Question 4

What role does the small intestine play in digesting carbohydrates?

Answer 4

Pancreatic amylase breaks down the amylose, amylopectin, and smaller chains of carbohydrates into maltose. Brush border enzymes break down all disaccharides to the monosaccharides glucose, fructose, and galactose, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.

Question 5

What role does the pancreas play in digesting carbohydrates?

Answer 5

It produces pancreatic amylase that is released into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct.

Question 6

What role does the liver play in digesting carbohydrates?

Answer 6

Glucose is taken up by the liver from the blood. Most glucose is returned to the blood to be picked up and used by body cells, or the body can use glucose for energy, convert it to glycogen, or store it as fat.

Question 7

What role does the large intestine play in digesting carbohydrates?

Answer 7

All starches and simple sugars are broken down and absorbed in the small intestine; only fiber passes into the large intestine. Bacteria in the colon metabolize some of the fiber. The majority of fiber is eliminated in the stool.

Question 8

Lactose Malabsorption

Answer 8

The inability to digest lactose in foods due to low levels of the enzyme lactase.

Question 9

Lactose Intolerant

Answer 9

When malabsorption of lactose results in symptoms such as nausea, cramps, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.